Categories: Retirement Planning and Investing

Jobless Claims in U.S. Fall to Lowest Level in a Month

Jobless Claims in U.S. Fall to Lowest Level in a Month (Bloomberg)

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits dipped last week to the lowest level in a month as typical volatility during the year-end holidays waned. Jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 339,000 in the period ended Dec. 28, Labor Department data showed today. The median forecast of 26 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 344,000 claims. The findings indicate that firings probably will be limited this year, with gains in business and consumer spending likely lifting the world’s largest economy. Further upticks in hiring may depend on progress among Washington lawmakers in budget negotiations this month, which would boost confidence and potential job gains. The improvement also could embolden additional Fed tapering of its bond buying action.

Paul Dykewicz

Paul Dykewicz is the editor of StockInvestor.com and the editorial director of Eagle Financial Publications in Washington, D.C. He writes and edits for the website, as well as edits investment newsletters, time-sensitive trading alerts and other reports published by Eagle. He also is an accomplished, award-winning journalist who has written for Dow Jones, USA Today and other publications, as well as served as business editor of a daily newspaper in Baltimore. In addition, Paul is the author of the inspirational book, "Holy Smokes! Golden Guidance from Notre Dame's Championship Chaplain." He received his MBA in finance from Johns Hopkins University, where he was a two-time president of the school's Finance Club. In addition, Paul has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Outside of work, Paul volunteers with a faith-based organization to assist the poor in Southeast Washington, D.C., to learn personal finance skills to lift themselves out of debt.